Lambs that are coming to Ryan's Way

(Ally)

(Melody)

We have been keeping very busy here at Ryan's Way. All of the goats are sheared, vaccinated, wormed and trimmed. Now I am starting on sheep and llamas. The lambs are growing very fast, the Shetland Romney cross are just beautiful and I look forward to showing all of my lambs at the county fair this year in July.

I am loving the look and feel of the Leicester world. I have two Border leicester ewes and then two Border/BFL crosses that are just yummy. I am arranging for two Blue Faced Leicester ewe lambs and then a natural colored BFL ram to come stay with us in May. I love the crimp and feel of this fiber and cannot wait to try some new blendings.

The two lambs pictured above are Melody and Ally, BFL.

Lambs for Sale

Keeping this little ewe. She is 1/2 Shetland 1/2 Romney

Left Shetland Ram-Right 1/2 Shetland 1/2 Romney Ram. Both for Sale

1/2 Border 1/2 Blue Faced Leicester Ram. He is for sale

Border Leicester Ewe- babies are 1/2 Blue Faced and 1/2 Border Leicester

A Winter Update

This is what Luu looks like and about this size, this is a borrowed picture not actually her as my camera is still broke

I have been battling the snow drifts to haul hay and water this past week. But I would rather have snow than ice any day.

Been teaching Luu the pig to sit and play dead. She is getting quite good at this. Luu is a Hampshire sow that I bought from the fair when she was a month old. Now she is pushing 200 pounds and is 5 months old. She is rotten, plain spoiled rotten. LOVES attention and we are starting to play tag. I do not plan on butchering her as she is my pet but I do plan on breeding her and then selling babies to FFA and 4-H members. Of course my husband says that some day she will knock me on my butt and then eat me, I know she will probably knock me on my butt but I am hoping the eating part does not happen.

Had a couple of my rams made into sausage, hunters links as they call them, Very tasty I think I like that better than summer sausage.

Have some yummy Mohair and romney wool that will be available at the spinners flock meeting in Chelsea, plus bringing sausage also. Will be a fun meeting !

There are new sheep in town !

These are not the actual sheep. It is a picture I borrowed from a UK Border Leicester website. But I have two ewes coming home tomorrow that look like this and they are bred to a Blue Faced Leicester so I am anxiously awaiting the new arrivals so I can see what a wonderful fleecy combination that will be.
Look at those ears, are they not the cutest thing ever !
Going to the Chelsea Spinnersflock meeting February 13th and have some yummy dyed Mohair in several colors plus some very nice Romney fleece from Bubba. If I don't get any buyers then I will throw a bag together of all sorts of colors and get it processed into roving to see what I can come up with !!

I need your Vote !!

Hi All,

I have come across a grant opportunity through Pepsi. I have applied and my project is titled "Fiber, Food and Family". This grant opportunity will enable me to construct a small building on my farm to house educational presentations and fiber art projects to do with the community. I am trying to bridge the gap between family and farming, whatever type of farming you do from fiber to food products.
These grants are awarded based on public vote.

February 1, 2010 will open voting.... go to- www.refresheverything.com
Look for Fiber, Food and Family and place your vote !!!

Thank you in advance for your support !!

Mohair !

The dye pots are going ! I have Mohair that is pink on silver and white, spruce on grey, yellow on white, golden yellow on white and teal on white. Yummy !

I am trying to be good and concentrate on writing a proposal for work but the weather is so mild and the sheep and goats are running around and playing as I watch out of the window it is hard to concentrate.

Will also be harvesting some Angora soon in a variety of shades.

Looking forward to adding Border Leicester and Blue Faced Leicester sheep to my herd. What fun that will be.

Must go stir the pot !!

Ryan Musings

Hi All,

I am sitting here looking out at this snow covered world and thinking about the future and all of the plans I have for this spring and summer.

I have started shearing my Romneys and they appreciated it very much. It is the middle of winter and they have 4-6 inches on them that is so thick when I put my hand in the wool (to warm my hands) they are hot ! So I am hand shearing thus leaving on about an inch of fiber.

As I am shearing, (such a professional way to do it: Sheep tied to gate, Robin sitting on a bucket with a garbage bag to put wool in. Got the picture) Bruce Almighty (my first Angora Goat) has to visit. When I smack him away from rubbing his horns all over my back, he goes for the cell phone. After he is told many times that the cell is off limits, he grabs a mouth full of MY hair and pulls me off of the bucket. " Get the point" he says. He is one of the more spoiled ones around here.

This summer I am hoping to hold a fiber event in my lot by the road that was left out from pasture for just this purpose. My plans are to have some vendors, some educational demos and then some area for petting some of the animals, we will see. First I have to see about the big one and that is liability insurance.

My plans are today to dye some Mohair..............hhmmmm what colors can I come up with next !!

Take care all..........................